Electricians in Houston

In Texas, anyone who does or offers non-exempt electrical work must be licensed by TDLR and work through a licensed electrical contractor, which in turn must be or employ a Master Electrician. Houston adds a local step: electrical masters and contractors register those state licenses with the city's Electrical Inspections section before pulling permits.

Since April 1, 2022, Houston's master electrician of record can't hold a city electrical contractor registration for more than one contracting business. That matches the state rule that a master can be assigned to only one contractor unless they own more than half of it. State law also caps what the city can ask: a TDLR license is valid everywhere in Texas, a city can't make a licensee take a local exam, and it can't charge registration fees, though permit fees still apply.

Texas adopted the 2026 NEC as the state code effective September 1, 2026, with a limited exception to the GFCI rule for certain outdoor outlets. Work permitted before that date was reviewed under the 2023 edition, so an older permit isn't a guide to what a new one will require.

Search the person and the company on TDLR's License Data Search by name or license number. Licenses renew every year, so look for a current expiration date. Then ask for the Houston registration and the permit number once it's issued.

Signs on the truck and in the paperwork

Texas electrical contractors must show their business name and TDLR license number on both sides of every vehicle, in letters at least two inches high. They must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations, and either carry workers' compensation or file a notice of no coverage with TDI. Ask for the certificate and which option they chose.

Complaints go to TDLR online. Where a city has its own electrical licensing program, TDLR says to contact that local authority first, so ask Houston's Electrical Inspections section whether your complaint belongs with it.

HomeGuide's national figures (February 2026) put electricians at $50 to $130 an hour, with a $100 to $200 service call covering the first hour, $150 to $600 for small jobs and $2,000 to $10,000 or more for large projects. Replacing a panel with a 200-amp panel runs $1,400 to $2,800 including labor.

CenterPoint Energy maintains the poles and wires in its Houston-area territory, and the wires company reads the meters. Before a panel swap, ask the electrician whether the meter must be disconnected, who arranges it and how long you'll be without power. The full Texas licensing guide and checklist are on the Texas electricians guide.

Harris County gives hurricane season as June 1 to November 30. Ask the electrician to pull a permit for a generator, transfer switch or new circuit, and keep the final inspection record with your house papers.

Pool equipment is split between trades. A Residential Appliance Installer can replace pumps, heaters and lights on the load side of the control center, but a new or upgraded line circuit needs a licensed electrical contractor. See pool service in Houston for the equipment side and AC repair in Houston when a new condenser needs a bigger circuit.

Texas law doesn't cover electrical work by the owner on the home they live in when the work isn't regulated by city ordinance, and Houston reviews electrical permit applications. Check the city's permit rules before you do any wiring yourself. In Fort Bend County, electricians in Sugar Land follow the same state license. More on Houston's permit office and utilities is in the Houston guide.